by Herbert Allen Giles (1845 - 1935)
Translation by Henri Pierre Roché (1879 - 1959)

With flowers on the ground like...
Language: English  after the Chinese (中文) 
With flowers on the ground like embroidery spread,
At twenty, the soft glow of wine in my head,
My white courser's bit-tassels motionless gleam
While the gold-threaded willow scent sweeps o'er the stream.
Yet until she has smiled, all these flowers yield no ray;
When her tresses fall down the whole landscape is gay;
My hand on her sleeve as I gaze in her eyes,
A kingfisher hairpin will soon be my prize.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Herbert A. Giles, A History of Chinese Literature, New York, London: D. Appleton and Co., 1924, page 175.


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Researcher for this page: Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2020-04-01
Line count: 8
Word count: 73

Des fleurs font une broderie
Language: French (Français)  after the English 
Des fleurs font une broderie sur le gazon.
J'ai vingt ans, le doux éclat du vin est dans ma tête,
Les glands d'or brillent au mors de mon coursier blanc,
Et l senteur du saule traîne sur le ruisseau.

Tant qu'elle n'a pas souri, ces fleurs sont sans rayons,
Quand ses tresses s'écroulent le paysage est gai.
Ma main est sur sa manche, mes yeux sont sur ses yeux,
Va-t-elle me donner l'épingle de ses cheveux?

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2004-01-20
Line count: 8
Word count: 76